Figure I. Kinesio taping on hamstring muscle with the X-shaped taping technique.
The main steps undertaken were the following (Sijmonsma, 2007):
- First step. Application of the midpoint “X” in the neutral position just above the popliteal fosse and placing the
short strips both medially and laterally to the popliteal fosse.
- Second step. Hip flexion and knee extension and then application of the medial strip on semimembranosus and
semitendinosus muscles and the lateral strip on the femoral biceps.
- Third step: Joining the anchorages in a neutral position on the ischial tuberosity.
To use the correct length of the tape for each person, they were measured in a stretched position from
the medial or lateral condyle of the tibia to the ischial tuberosity. For application of the sham tape, a white 5 cm
wide tape (Lenotape, Farmaban®) was used following the same procedure described above. The sham tape is
seemingly like the KT, designed for functional and sports taping, but it is not elastic.